Those trying to walk the township’s trail network currently have to maneuver a stretch of Maple Avenue west of Vine Street and east of Chestnut street where woodlands directly abut onto the roadway, with no sidewalks between. Bibro told the township commissioners and public April 27 that the township is seeking $100,000 in grant money from Montgomery County’s Montco 2040 Implementation Grant program to install roughly 300 feet of sidewalk on the south side of Maple, to connect Chestnut Street to the trails running south from the Hatfield Aquatic Center and township municipal building.

Planning for the trail project is still proceeding through the permitting process, according to the manager, who said the state Department of Environmental Protection is involved due to crossings over streams and PennDOT due to a crossing at the state-owned Orvilla Road.

“There are three crossings that we need to address, and each crossing needs a permit, so we are working with the regulatory agencies” and hoping to do construction this coming summer, Bibro said.

The $100,000 grant award would require a 20 percent match of township funds, which Bibro said Hatfield should be able to handle.

“We have budgeted $100,000 (for the project), so we’re well above the thresholds for the match, which makes us a more favorable application to the county,” he said.

The trail projects will be funded by developer contributions and no taxpayer funds will be spent, Bibro said, and word on the grant application should come “in the next few months,” with construction of part of the trail slated for summer and the sidewalks and crossings, if possible, in fall.

“Our goal every year is to have the paving complete before the school year begins, so we don’t interrupt the bus traffic for the students. That is the schedule, and depending on the weather, we should be able to make that happen,” Bibro said.

Hatfield’s board also approved two land lot subdivision plans discussed at their April 13 workshop and an amended land development plan for the Clemens Food Group to add warehouse space to their complex on Forty Foot Road. The board also voted unanimously to update the list of township roads eligible for state grant funding, and voted to designate Finance Director Dave Bernhauser as Hatfield’s “special agent” to handle federal reimbursement money for expenses incurred during January snowstorms.

Hatfield’s commissioners next meet at 7:30 p.m. on May 11 at the township administration building, 1950 School Road. For more information or meeting agendas and materials visit www.HatfieldTownship.org or follow @HatfieldPA on Twitter.